Government policy favours investment in active means of travel - so called since it results in the traveller having exercise as well as getting from A to B, with all the attendant health benefits (and money saving).
The main Government policy document on this subject, a joint Strategy between the Department for Transport ( DfT ) and the Department of Health ( DoH ) - and which is the background in which the Study is presented - is available as a PDF on the Department for Transport's web site. This was updated and reinforced by the new 'Creating Growth, Cutting Carbon' White Paper in January 2011 where Chapter 5 considers Active Travel modes as part of the UK 's overall transport strategy.
The Council is encouraging our residents, visitors and employers to adopt the most sustainable travel mode for their journey. Walking and cycling are carbon emission free at the point of use, and carry all sorts of health benefits as well as helping people to save money whilst supporting local businesses. Some people's perception is that roads are just too dangerous - but if that leads them to drive instead of walk or cycle, that's adding to the very congestion and 'danger' on the roads that concerns them in the first place. It's a vicious circle - but one that can be broken.
Fuel prices are around £1.40 a litre; vehicle use is falling; energy costs are going through the roof; everyone's budget is tight. Now might be the time to try a change to a more healthy (and cheaper) way of travel for some local journeys.
We carried out a public consultation on a draft of the 'Active Travel Strategy' between June and September 2011. Almost all responses were supportive of the aims and objectives of the Strategy, with many detailed comments expanding particular areas of interest or concern, although some were of a level of detail inappropriate for the Study's coverage. All of the comments were reviewed and commented upon, and a summary is available here (PDF, 128kb) >>.
Following the review the document was updated and amended, and is now presented as an overarching Active Travel Study (better reflecting its content) containing the Walking Strategy and Cycling Strategy as separate, stand-alone sections. The Study provides the framework for investment over the period 2011 - 2016 as we further develop the network of cycling and walking routes across the Borough, joining up our routes with those provided by our neighbouring authorities as well as to the National Cycle Network. To achieve this we will be working with partners such as Sustrans and Hampshire County Council, and engaging in nationwide projects such as 'Links to School'. We're also working with the open source community in developing the CycleStreets journey planner which will supplement our cycle network map with an online route planning facility.
More information about walking and cycling in Havant >>